Main navigation

The Observance of the Lord's Day

As the sabbath was instituted to celebrate the old creation, so the
Lord’s day celebrates the New Creation. Throughout this age the most Spirit-filled,
devout believers to whom the will of God has been clearly revealed, have kept the
Lord’s day apart from any sense of responsibility to keep the seventh day. It is
reasonable to suppose that had they been guilty of sabbath breaking, they would have been
convicted of that sin.

Since it is all of grace, a written requirement for the keeping of the
Lord’s day is not imposed, nor is the manner of its observance prescribed. By this
wise provision, none are encouraged to keep the day as a mere duty; it is to be kept from
the heart. Israel stood before God as immature children under tutors and governors and
needing the commandments which are given to a child (Gal. 4:1-11); while the Church stands
before God as adult sons. Their life under grace is clearly defined, but it is presented
only as the beseechings of God with the expectation that all shall be done willingly (Eph.
4:1-3; Rom. 12:1,2). There is little question as to how a well-instucted, Spirit-filled
believer (and the Scripture presupposes a normal Christian to be such) will be occupied on
the day which commemorates Christ’s resurrection and the New Creation. If perchance
the child of God is not yielded to God, no unwilling observance of a day will correct his
carnal heart nor would such observance be pleasing to God. The issue between God and the
carnal Christian is not one of outward actions, but of a yielded life.

The Observance of the First Day is Indicated by Various Events. In
addition to the fact that the sabbath is nowhere imposed on the children of God under
grace, there are reasons for their observance of the first day of the week.

1. On that day Christ arose from the dead (Matt. 28:1-7; Lk. 24:1-6).

2. On that day He first met His disciples in the new fellowship (John
20:19).

3. On that day the Spirit descended from Heaven (Acts 2:1-4).

4. On that day the Apostle Paul preached in Troas (Acts 20:6,7)

5. On that day the believers came together to break bread (Acts 20:6,7)

6. On that day they were to "lay by in store" as God had
prospered them (1 Cor. 16:2).

7. On that day Christ appeared to John on Patmos (Rev. 1:10). (Lewis
Sperry Chafer)

And
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to
break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the marrow;
and continued his speech until midnight (Acts 20:7).

This is evidently something to which the Holy Spirit
desires to draw our attention in a special way; otherwise it would not be mentioned so
definitely. They arrived in Troas, remained there seven days until the first day of the
week rolled around. And what is the first day of the week? The day that we call Sunday.
And on this day, not on the Jewish Sabbath, but on the first day of the week, already it
had become customary apparently for the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to gather
together for a specific purpose, and that purpose is called here "to break
bread". (Harry Ironside)

In 1825, J. G. Bellett, who had met Anthony Norris Groves in Dublin,
wrote these memorable words of his friend: "It appeared to him from Scripture that
believers, meeting together as disciples of Christ, were free to break bread as their Lord
had admonished them, and that in so far as the practice of the apostles could be a guide,
every Lord’s Day should be set apart for thus remembering the Lord’s death and
obeying His parting command." To those who are accustomed now to meet in that simple,
unpretentious way, such a discovery means nothing, but to men who were wedded to Church
systems it was momentous, captivating. This reversion to the Scriptures has had
repercussions in the furthest corners of the world. Gatherings for the breaking of bread
are now an integral part of that witness which derives its virility from its simplicity.
The oneness of the Body of Christ is recognized and opportunity to display that oneness is
given in the weekly gathering to break bread. (Andrew Borland)